Aquatic centre afloat with innovation

Written on the 11 August 2009

DELIVERING a project on time while adhering to budget was the catalyst for design and construct company Multi Span Australia and JV partner Pool Link winning the Tweed Council tender to overhaul the Murwillumbah Swimming Centre.

The outcome is the $14 million multi-functional Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre. With facilities including a hydrotherapy pool; a 25m dive/program pool; a 50m, eight lane competition pool (refurbishment); leisure pool; water slide; 275 multi-storey carpark, and 26-seat café – the project epitomises the modern day community sporting facility.

The relationship between the JV partners and Tweed Shire Council enabled the project to be completed in just over 12 months. Extensive research was carried out by Multi Span as it became obvious that the current design philosophies of aquatic centre design presented some issues for the lifecycle of the facility. The team then found solutions overseas.

Apart from the usual products made locally, the project required specialised imported materials and equipment such as: An Italian lift; fabric ceiling lining made in France and flown to New Zealand for stitching; dive boards from the US; roofing material from the UK; specialised fixings from Switzerland and a raft of Chinese-made products.

“This complex is the culmination of many disciplines from the council team that provided the vision, it was interpreted and created by the design teams, the constructions workers who used their bare hands to make it, to the management and staff that have provided the input on the daily operations of the centre,” says project manager Martin Hood.

“The Tweed Shire Council has put in a lot of time and investment into this project and I am sure the Tweed region will be justly rewarded by the contribution that council has made. From the outset, the intentions were clear it was to be a collaboration of all parties involved in the project to produce a feature packed aquatic experience for the people of the region.

“I feel that this Aquatic Centre will not only be a success within the community itself but will set a new benchmark for Aquatic Facilities in this country.”